Monday, September 13, 2004

A SUPERB display by goalkeeper Aaron Kerr helped Worcester City preserve their unbeaten Nationwide North record in last night's thrilling 2-2 draw with Kettering Town.

City had to fight and scrap for a point at St George's Lane as goals from Leon Kelly and Liam McDonald gained them their sixth draw of the league campaign.

But the home faithful had former Northern Ireland Under 21 keeper Kerr to thank with a series of top-draw first-half saves which kept Worcester in the hunt at the interval.

Kettering are the most dangerous side City have met so far this season and their main threat, forward pairing Darren Lynch and Drew Roberts, caused untold headaches for John Barton's defence.

Barton said: "Kettering were by far and away the best side we've played. They have a lot of pace and they caused us plenty of problems.

"The game was so open and stretched. At the end of the day, it would have been harsh for either side to lose and we were happy to take a point."

Bizarrely, an end-to-end first 45 minutes finished goalless despite a plethora of gilt-edged chances for both sides.

Kelly was gifted a golden opportunity in the Kettering penalty box on 13 minutes following a slip from Derek Brown, but the in-form striker was kept out by goalkeeper Steve Corry.

Moments later, Town defender Scott McCafferty was called upon to hack clear Adam Webster's near-post shot met sweetly from Nick Colley's fizzing cross.

It was then City's turn to go on the back-foot as the Poppies opened up the home defence on several occasions. A mistake by captain Carl Heeley let in Drew Roberts on 16 minutes, but Kerr beat away the shot.

Kerr denied Roberts in another one-on-one opportunity and kept Town at bay again on 27 minutes with a stunning one-handed stop from Lynch after the striker was put through by Ollie Burgess. His most audacious effort came five minutes before the break when he flung himself to tip over Lynch's bullet header.

Kerr was eventually beaten a minute after the re-start when Martin Matthews' long free-kick was volleyed into the back of the net by Lynch.

It sparked City into life and the lead lasted until the 58th minute when excellent build-up work between Pat Lyons and Webster teed up Kelly, who fired low under Corry for his eighth league goal of the season.

Another Kelly effort was ruled out for off-side, but Worcester went in front on 68 minutes. Liam McDonald cut in from the left and deceived everyone with a low cross-cum-shot which beat the sprawling Corry.

The celebrations lasted only a few moments, however, as Kettering pounced to equalise, Lynch rising above the City defence to power home Daniel French's free-kick.

City: H Kerr 9, Warner 6, Hines 6, Hoyle 6, Heeley (c) 6, Carty 6, Colley 7, McDonald 7, Webster 6, Kelly 7, Lyons 7.

Attendance: 1,113.